-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Clashes near the northern Malian town of Kidal between government forces and Tuareg rebel armed groups have left eight Malian soldiers dead and 25 others injured , according to the country 's Defense Ministry , the state-run newspaper , L'Essor National , reported Sunday .

There were also 28 dead and 62 wounded on the Tuareg side , the ministry said , according to L'Essor National .

The government issued a statement Saturday saying Tuareg rebels from the Azawad National Liberation Movement , joined by jihadists , attacked government buildings .

The Azawad National Liberation Movement -- known as the MNLA , the initials for its name in French -- is fighting for independence for the northern part of Mali , a region that it refers to as Azawad .

The MNLA issued a statement about the violence , describing it as self-defense and resistance .

The group claimed it took 30 prisoners , including 24 soldiers and three regional government officials . Two wounded Malian soldiers were handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross , the MNLA added .

The United Nations Mission in Mali condemned the clashes and said they violated the preliminary accords designed to bring peace and security in the northern regions , including in Kidal .

French soldier killed in fight against militants in Mali

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Government forces clash with Tuareg rebels , state-run paper reports

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The clashes end with 8 Malian soldiers ' deaths ; 28 Tuareg rebels died , paper says

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Government says buildings attacked by Azawad National Liberation Movement